Here's a chapter :)

I didn't realize how confusing my timeline was until I got lost myself (Screw time zones). So here's a summary of what has recently happened (First time (and date of the week) is Oslo-Brussels time, second one – if there is one – is Mongolia time).

Saturday:
7 pm : crash
Sunday:
2am / 9am : England calls Belgium to give the news
1pm / 8pm :Iceland & Co arrive in Mongolia
Monday:
4am / 11am : Iceland & Co start their search
11am / 6pm : They take the plane back
Tuesday:
1am : Arrive at Oslo (Iceland & Co)
7am : Arrive at Oslo (Irene & Co)
9am : Hospital visit
(1pm : Meeting)

So as you can see, the last chapter actually happened in the middle of the one before, sorry for the mess in time line!

To readers, reviewers and awesome people: I love you all.
Hetalia does not belong to me.

Hong Kong and Russia searched the hospital through and through for Irene. It wasn't really a question of finding her quickly, they had enough time to start and finish a Monopoly, but both were eager to apologize to her… Or at least Hong Kong was. Russia probably just wanted Irene back at his side; she was after all the one to pull him out of his suffocating loneliness.

Problem was: the hospital was huge.

At first Hong Kong was strangely calm about it. He was still feeling relieved. However, as minutes passed, he realized how stupid he was to let her wander in a gigantic hospital in a country she didn't know. Irene was as good as stranded on a deserted island to him.

After half an hour of getting lost, getting lost and getting lost, they both realized that asking around was better than randomly engaging into long corridors and checking every doors.
Their first target was the reception lady.

"Uhm, hello?" Hong Kong asked to the glass-walled booth.

"Can I help you sir?" The woman asked with a perfectly rehearsed smile.

"I'm looking for a girl with straight hazelnut brown hair that reaches just under her shoulder blades. She's wearing a black jacket, dark brown boots and jeans." Hong Kong answered.

"Is she crying?" the booth woman asked, an amused smile on her face.

Hong Kong looked at his feet ashamed. Russia replied for him: "Yes, that is probably her."

"I saw her twenty minutes ago, she was approached by a tall blond man with glasses… Your height approximately." She glanced at Russia "and a frail old man. I guess he was her grandfather since that's what she called him. They all left together to visit the patient in room… uhm… I don't really remember the room number…"

"It's okay," Hong Kong smiled "We should be able to find her."

He calmly walked away from the reception, but his mind was in turmoil. Tall, blond, glasses… Sweden? Who was the old grandpa then?
Hong Kong didn't even have any guarantee the first was a country. Irene was the type to go along with anything. Chances were, she felt like taking a ride to town and followed two complete strangers whose only intentions were to rape her.
On the other hand, Irene was a smart person. She probably knew the danger she could be in and – No! She couldn't possibly - ? But it was Irene, she was as unpredictable as the future and as daring as the devil. If he didn't find her…

Hong Kong and Russia ran up to Norway's room again and just as Hong Kong was about to open the door, Russia stopped him.
"She's not in there." He said.

"Where is she then?" Hong Kong asked, ignoring Russia's sigh.

"In Denmark's room." Russia replied "He was also involved in the crash remember? Irene is obviously frustrated with us, I doubt she would risk going back."

Oh right. Denmark. He kept forgetting he was another 'victim' of Iceland's. Being forgotten apart, Denmark was an important piece of the puzzle! He had been in the car that crashed into Norway's, for all Hong Kong knew, he was the real criminal.
No. Hong Kong trusted all the Nordic countries. How many times had he visited them? How many times had they welcomed him like family? In times like this, and as Irene had said, it was important not to doubt those who earned trust.

The two headed to the end of the corridor, to room 405.

"Mathias Kohler"

The name was scribbled sloppily on a paper and stuck to the door. Well at least they couldn't get that wrong.

"Wait." Russia halted before Hong Kong could reach the handle.

"What is it this time?" the teen hissed.

Russia's smile turned into a frown. "You're panicking."

"Wha – Pffff! No I'm not!" Hong Kong refuted.

"Why?" Russia demanded, staring right into Hong Kong's eyes.

Russia's eyes are so deep, Hong Kong thought. He had never really looked in them before. They had a beautiful but childish hue of innocent purple. How ironic, no countries are innocent. The man was known for being strong and manipulative but his eyes were mysterious, beautiful and seemingly calm. And yet, beyond the irony of it, they were sharp as knives. They seemed to say everything and nothing, to show wisdom, but only wisdom the owner wanted to share.
Just like a mask.
Just like Irene.
When had the girl ever stopped talking? Hong Kong couldn't remember a time where her mouth wasn't running like broken tap and yet he hardly remembered a time when she said things that mattered. She was quick witted, she was cheerful, but was she ever herself?

"Why?" Russia insisted "Why are you in such hurry to find her? We have hours before the meeting starts."

Because she was dangerous. Because he didn't know what she was capable of. Because he didn't know her. He wasn't so much scared for her safety as he was scared for… for what? Other humans? He'd been in wars, he'd seen them die, he even saw his own die from storms of diseases and raging fights. Other countries? Irene was with him when the accident had occurred she couldn't have killed Norway and Denmark.
He was scared but he didn't know of what.
He actually didn't know anything.

Nor how she thought, nor when she would leave.

"Hong Kong?" Russia asked, an intrigued look on his face.

"Ah, sorry." Hong Kong apologized "I was daydreaming."

Russia sighed and gave up. He opened the door. To find to crossed fingers shoved in his face.

"VADE RETRO SATA – Ouch!" America started before being elbowed by Romania. "Dude! He's gonna steal our souls if we don't do anything!"

America, Romania, Sweden, an old man (who for some reason was texting with Iceland's phone), Finland and Irene were gathered around Denmark's bed, using his poor unconscious body as a table.
Irene seemed to have recovered as she played cards with her 'grandfather' but she still avoided Hong Kong's gaze.

"When did you guys all get here?" Hong Kong asked.

"We got here two minutes ago." Romania answered "Finland got lost so he arrived right before us but Sweden and Iceland got here twenty minutes ago after coming across Irene."

"Why is Iceland a-" Hong Kong started.

"Shut up." Iceland cut in, glaring at his friend. "Romania had this or a Sakura cosplay."

All turned towards Romania.

…

"Curious, aren't we?" he smirked.

…

They all turned away.

"Right… Anywho," Hong Kong muttered "Irene uhm… Can I, like, talk to you or something?"
He dared throw a glance at her, cursing himself for being unable to swallow back his words. What exactly was he going to say to her? Think, think fast.

"No." Sweden deadpanned, his expression unwavering. He scooted in front of Irene, as if to create a wall between her and her friend.

"Wha -? Since when are you called Irene?" Hong Kong asked. His heartbeat was starting to run a bit too fast from panicking but he tried to keep a front.

Irene smiled with a bit of pity mixed in her eyes "Thanks Sweden but I think it won't hurt to talk." She stood up and followed Hong Kong to the corridor.

"So." Hong Kong took a deep breath "I am sorry for being a cold hearted bastard."

"I am sorry too" Irene apologized, much to his surprise "I shouldn't have taken out all that anger on you… I'd probably also have a one-track mind if my best friend was framed for murder."

"Wait, wait, wait. I'm not finished yet." Hong Kong continued "I should have realized it sooner but I really, really do consider you as a friend and I can't ever apologize enough for making you think otherwise. I'm just used to it being me and Iceland… as in me and him, not his country nor mine. But the thing is, you're the same. You don't hang out with countries, you hang out with us and personally it actually helps a lot. We've been around a lot of humans but we've never actually tried to get to know them… I can't believe what we missed. Also, if you hadn't given me that verbal slap on the face earlier, I don't know in what state of mind I'd be in and what kind of stupid reckless mistake I'd have committed… So sorry, and thank you."

Irene stared at him blankly. "I was not expecting that." She blurted out.

"That was kind of anti-climatic." Hong Kong smiled.

The girl smiled back. He was glad things seemed normal again.

Irene laughed. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for what you said and everything!" she immediately added "It's just that it makes me feel really guilty. I mean, you've just told me so much and I'm… I'm just… I can't pay you back." Irene bit her lips in frustration "Please don't tell Ivan, but I think I might have to leave soon."

Hong Kong stared at her blankly. "I was not expecting that." He blurted out.

But this time, none of them commented on the lack of tact.

And things in Hong Kong's mind were starting to make sense.

He was scared of never seeing her again. It had always been an inevitable truth – that she would not stay – but it never seemed real until… until it was about to happen. Irene was human but she had somehow, through text messages and mystery, become more than the initial entertainment she had been to Hong Kong. He couldn't lose her; there is no replacing a person.

"How?" he managed to ask, shock preventing words from flowing out.

Irene's eyes, much like Russia's, suddenly seemed owner of wisdom that wasn't to be shared. And immediately, her silent plea was understood. 'Please don't ask.'. It was like an unspoken rule around Irene that there was no asking about herself and Hong Kong had grown to respect it. However, it was becoming hard to.

Iceland came out, still dressed as an old man. He stared at his two friends.

It was a very awkward scene on which he stumbled on; the positions of the two were completely reversed. Irene was fascinated by her boots and Hong Kong stared at her in horror.

"Irene, I forgot to tell you something." He said, ignoring the dumbfounded Hong Kong. "If what you told us earlier is true, the best clue we have is that Prussia has something to do with it."

"And he'll be at the meeting." Irene finished. Her voice was obviously trying to keep its pride, but a slight tremble gave away her guilt.

"Ice!" Hong Kong called, catching the nordic's attention "Did she tell you that she needed to-"

"To go?" Iceland continued "Yeah."
The silver haired teen looked straight in Hong Kong's eyes.
"It's her decision to make." He explained "We can't force her to stay here… even we think it's better for her."

Irene and Iceland exchanged glances and smiled a sad smile in understanding.

"But… Didn't you imply your life suck in your world?" Hong Kong pleaded "Why would you go back there?"

"I don't want to go back, I need to go back." Irene answered "I don't belong here."

"And when has that ever stopped you?" Hong Kong replied.

"Never. Never until it hit me in the face!" Irene cried "This is not home for me Hong Kong! I'm not supposed to be here!"

"And?" he retaliated "Iceland and I weren't supposed to be friends, our countries have nothing to do with each other, and does that make the world a worst place?"

"About that-" Iceland started.

"You don't understand!" Irene sneered, ignoring Iceland like if he was just another particle of oxygen floating around "There is no good from having me stay here! – And before you say that 'spending time with friends' is enough of a reason, let me tell you something: I don't want to be your friend… Nor do you want to be mine." Irene's mouth crooked itself in a smile that lacked sanity and sincerity, much like Russia's usual 'Become one with me, da?' "That Irene you became friends with, it's not me. I pretended to laugh, I pretended to smile, I said things I didn't believe in… All of it was a big scam Hong Kong! You don't know me and let's keep it that way!"

"What happened then," he asked "to make you stop your acting?"

"I was reading a book, lazily, in my room," Irene started, her voice dripping with a dark, sarcastic tone "and suddenly, poof, I'm in a manga character's basement. That's not weird at all. Then, I just happen to encounter the one character I wanted to and befriend the country I reside in. No one questions me as long as I say it's England's fault, everyone just accepts me and not a single soul shows hatred! You want an answer? Well here's one; I didn't believe in this whole mess!"
"I'm not a social butterfly." She continued "I can't speak to people with ease; I can't make friends this easily! The only exception is when I'm speaking to others behind a screen, when all those I talk to are just virtual personalities… Yes, that's what I saw you as, fakes. But you're not, you're real and you deserve a real friend, not a coward who hides behind a mask."

"Your story is pretty similar to mine actually," Hong Kong sighed "When I first saw you, I acted as though I wanted to be your friend… But really, I just needed entertainment. You were a bunch of mysteries glued together under the name of Irene and my boredom saw you as a puzzle, a game. Sure, Iceland is fun to tease -"

"Hey! I'm still there!"

"- but I thought solving who you were was better. I never had the intention of befriending you."

"There we go!" Irene concluded "None of us wanted to be the other's friend, we both lied to each other thus never talking to our real personalities and that's that."

"Yeah… No." Hong Kong deadpanned "I may have worn a mask too, but it did become my reality. You are my friend Irene."

"This feel like some Korean drama." Iceland noted.

"Can it Ice." Hong Kong ordered "Things change. I don't know when they did, maybe during that early morning call a few days after meeting you or through making waffles just before leaving to Norway… What matters is that they did! I knew from the beginning that you weren't who you were pretending to be. True, you're better than Russia at this but not perfect, and yet I started caring about you despite your secrecy!"

"How is that even possible?" Irene asked "You can't care for someone you don't know!"

"God how can you be so… ugh… So infuriating!" Hong Kong groaned "Do you really believe I know nothing of you? I talked to you enough to know you're strong but in pain and far too stubborn to ask for help, I know you fear love and attention and will always try to focus on other's problems to avoid your own, I also know that you're similar to Russia in more aspects than one: loneliness, discomfort and a childish obsession with destruction… Do I need to list more?"

Irene stayed speechless as she gawked at Hong Kong who fumed with anger.

"Don't lie to me Irene." He finished "I'm pretty sure your mask also became you."

The girl clenched her fist and teeth and immediately, Hong Kong knew he had opened Pandora's box.

"So now you think you can guess how I feel?" she asked with a smile that mocked Hong Kong's pride "I must congratulate you for making out so much… unfortunately those deductions are being overshadowed by how dumb you are." The girl bit her lips and shook her head.
"If what really matters is the now and not the then, obviously we're not on very good terms, are we?"

The coldness in her voice froze Hong Kong. It was true, they were fighting. Did that make them enemies?

"Irene." Iceland warned. He had completely disappeared from both of their minds. The Nordic looked at Irene in pity before shooting an angry look at his friend. "It's fine, don't worry… I'll – We'll get you home."

"Thanks." Irene smiled.

Hong Kong failed to understand. Why were the two so accomplice-y with each other? Why was Irene, who had just officially ended their friendship, the one being comforted? Moreover, why did Iceland want Irene to leave?

Iceland sighed. The tension surrounding the two was obvious, but he chose to ignore it.
"Anywho, in case both of you might have forgotten, I'm soon going to know how many countries will be declaring war on my person and which way they found more convenient for me to die so…"

The conference room wasn't a single circular table this time around. It was a massive amphitheatre in which all countries, all regions, all islands could fit. The seats were arranged in rows of semi circles, all wider that the one right under. In the centre and in front of a huge advertisement panel sized screen, was a stand that could hold about twenty public speakers and that seemed as big as an ant from the highest seats.

Everything was of basic colours, the chairs were black, the long curved tabled were wood brown, the walls were dirty white, the banners that hung from the ceiling bore Norway's flag…
Big and plain.

All the personifications filed in, accompanied by Iceland, Norway and Denmark's presidents. Even a brown haired human took her seat next to the Russian Federation. Before the beginning of the conference, the hall was full and ready to start.
England stepped on the platform and stood behind the stand. The shuffling of his papers was all that broke the tense silence.

"Representing England, member of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." He stated, preparing himself for the opening speech.
"We are all gathered here to present our decision concerning Norway and Denmark's conditions. As main investigator, I will be in charge of this meeting. Here as the facts as known: At six past midnight, Greenwich time, the two countries were involved into a car crash from which none of them seem to be able to recover. Witnesses claim having seen Iceland stab his brother before running away and since then, he has been missing."

More paper shuffling.

"We shall shortly decide on Iceland's fate... or in this case, probably death."